Ronaldo Unveils 2014 Brazil World Cup Mascot Is An Armadillo

Brazil football legend Ronaldo was on hand to announce that the 2014 World Cup mascot will be an armadillo, but the benign mammal's name is yet to be chosen by the Brazilian public.

Amijubi, Fuleco and Zuzeco are the three names to choose from after the latest mascot was announced on Sunday.

Amijubi, Fuleco or Zuzeco?

What may seem to be a peculiar choice, the armadillo however rolls up into the shape of a ball when threatened and is often found in northeastern Brazil.

The first World Cup mascot was introduced in 1966, when World Cup Willie, decked out in his Union Jack garb, began a new trend for host nations to adopt a fictional figurehead to publicise tournaments.

World Cup Willie, as he appeared on 1966 programmes

Other memorable World Cup mascots have included Juanito in Mexico in 1970, an orange named Naranjito in Spain in 1982 and rooster, a Footix in France in 1998.